Akpabio had been declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission winner of the March 28 Senatorial Election for Akwa Ibom North-West District.
This declaration prompted the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Senatorial District, Chief Inibehe Okorie, to petition the Tribunal asking that Akpabio's election be nullified for alleged irregularities.
The Chairman of the Tribunal, ruling on the prayers of the petitioner, Justice Adebayo Oyebanji, directed that the polling documents used in the election be inspected.
Oyebanji explained that the order was derived from the provisions of Section 151 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010. The section allows for inspection of polling documents if the Tribunal is satisfied that it could help maintain or defend election petition.
Further inspection, directed from the chairman, should be conducted within 10 days from May 8, in the presence of the respondent or his agents and the security agents.
The counsel for the petitioner, Chief Assam Assam (SAN), earlier had prayed the Tribunal to grant leave for inspection of the polling documents to verify 450,000 votes scored by Akpabio.
It was reported that 35 petitions had been received by the Tribunal in the state as of May 8.
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